{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/who-should-a-business-identify-and-insure-as-a-key-person","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/questions/who-should-a-business-identify-and-insure-as-a-key-person","question":"Who should a business identify and insure as a key person?","topic":"Business life insurance & protection","audience":"borrower","bot_mode":"buyer","short_answer":"A business should identify individuals whose absence would cause significant financial harm or operational disruption. This often includes owners, founders, top executives, or employees with specialized skills.","rule":"Key persons are those whose unique contributions are indispensable to the company's success. Their death could lead to a substantial drop in revenue, loss of critical clients, or an inability to complete projects, jeopardizing the business's viability.","example":"For a software startup, the CEO (visionary), lead developer (product creator), and head of sales (primary revenue generator) would all be considered key persons.","what_lenders_check":"Lenders will scrutinize key roles, especially for smaller businesses, to ensure critical personnel are identified and adequately insured, reducing the risk of loan default due to personnel loss.","required_facts":["Owners, founders","Top executives","Specialized skills","Revenue generators","Irreplaceable knowledge"],"source_families":[],"official_sources":[],"related_questions":[{"question":"What is key-person life insurance and why is it crucial for small businesses?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-is-key-person-life-insurance-and-why-is-it-crucial-for-small-businesses"},{"question":"What is the typical amount of key-person life insurance coverage needed?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-is-the-typical-amount-of-key-person-life-insurance-coverage-needed"},{"question":"Who owns and is the beneficiary of a key-person life insurance policy?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/who-owns-and-is-the-beneficiary-of-a-key-person-life-insurance-policy"},{"question":"What are the tax implications of key-person life insurance premiums and benefits?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-are-the-tax-implications-of-key-person-life-insurance-premiums-and-benefits"},{"question":"Why would a buyer require life insurance on a seller during business acquisition?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/why-would-a-buyer-require-life-insurance-on-a-seller-during-business-acquisition"},{"question":"Who typically owns the life insurance policy on a seller post-acquisition?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/who-typically-owns-the-life-insurance-policy-on-a-seller-post-acquisition"}],"related_terms":[{"term":"Life insurance","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/life-insurance"},{"term":"Key man insurance","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/key-man-insurance"},{"term":"Universal life insurance","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/universal-life-insurance"},{"term":"Life insurance requirement","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/life-insurance-requirement"},{"term":"Life insurance collateral","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/life-insurance-collateral"},{"term":"Whole life insurance","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/whole-life-insurance"}],"related_tools":[{"name":"Life insurance coverage estimator","url":"https://dealroom.so/seller-life-insurance#ins-estimator"},{"name":"Request insurance quotes","url":"https://dealroom.so/seller-life-insurance#ins-quote"}],"data_freshness":{"last_reviewed":"2026-06-15","sba_rule_sources_checked_through":"2026-06-15"},"citation":{"label":"DealRoom.so SBA 7(a) Q&A","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/who-should-a-business-identify-and-insure-as-a-key-person","source_type":"DealRoom Q&A"},"caveats":["Grounded in the current SBA rulebook; verify against official sources before relying on it for a live deal.","Not legal, tax, or financial advice and not an approval decision."]}